Pharisees

The Pharisees were a Jewish political party and social movement in Judea which existed from 167 BC to 73 AD. The Pharisees resisted Hellenization, unlike their rivals, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees accepted both the written Torah and doctrines such as the Oral Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and the resurrection of the dead. By the fall of the Second Temple, the Pharisees numbered 6,000, and their leaders included John Hyrcanus, Alexander Jannaeus, Hyrcanus II, and Salome Alexandra. The Pharisees received the support of the common people, claimed Mosaic authority for the interpretation of Jewish laws, and supported man-made rules. During the time of Jesus, he came into conflict with the Pharisees due to their anthropocentrism and their scorning of sinners. Following the split of Christianity from Judaism, Pharisees became the majority group in Judaism.